Top positive review

This has to be my Book of the Year. What an amazing read. I have read and loved all of Kate Morton's book, and in my opinion, this is her very best to date. It had me enthralled from the beginning. Spanning different times from mid 1800 to present day and back again. There are so many twists and turns which keep the reader glued to the page. I couldn't put it down.

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This has to be my Book of the Year. What an amazing read. I have read and loved all of Kate Morton's book, and in my opinion, this is her very best to date. It had me enthralled from the beginning. Spanning different times from mid 1800 to present day and back again. There are so many twists and turns which keep the reader glued to the page. I couldn't put it down.

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I have been patiently waiting for this book since The Lake House. I love books around old English homes and so I love Kate's books. They are always such absorbing read.Despite the fabulous story - don't get me wrong, she is an amazing writer - I have only given it a 4 star rating as like other reviews I found it a bit hard to follow the characters and the time periods. They jumped around a bit. She may have been better writing each story line as separate stories of each character and then blended it all into the final chapter in the end. Loved the idea of alot of the story being told through Lily's spirit.I hope her next one is not 3 years away. I have read them all but will go back and reread The Secret Garden which I think is my favourite.

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I am always completely hooked by Kate Morton's books. Even though I know what the likely outcome will be for some of the characters, I am always drawn into the world that she creates.

"Sentimentality [is] mawkish and cloying, where nostalgia [is] acute and aching...it describe[s] yearning of the most profound kind: an awareness that time's passage could not be stopped..."

Except, presumably, in fiction. Morton's work, whether sentimental or nostalgic, uses a formula that works: a mystery, a wrong that needs to be set right, a big house with its own secrets, a focus on the lives of women across generations. It's part historical fiction, part mystery and all of these novels have the pace of a thriller. The books - though formulaic - magically work their way under the skin. That's not to say there are no surprises. There are twists and turns and also some fabulously inventive writing. One such moment occurred early in the novel where the reader was allowed to hear the inner monologue of a satchel under the weight and history if its contents. That might sound odd, but it worked.

Each woman's story in this particular case is deftly and richly told and then is ultimately woven together, like a great tapestry.

We start with a mysterious character in an old house and who is recounting stories from the past. We discover more in the present-day about this woman and the various allegations that were made against her. There are some allusions made within this story to The Titanic and more than a passing nod to the artist Rossetti. Next up is our main character: Elodie, a clever archivist with her own interesting family history, who is struggling with an interfering soon-to-be mother in law and a relationship that just doesn't seem to be working. Other female narrators are then introduced, with wonderful parallels drawn between each of them.

Yes, this is slightly longer than some of Ms Morton's other books but it's well worth it.

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I loved this story so much!Not quite the book that was The Secret Keeper (which would have had 6 stars had it been possible!) but so many wonderful characters arcing across the eras, all shedding a bit of light on the central mystery.I’d love to name a favourite, but they all brought their own particular delight to the table and one just wanted things to be alright for all of them. (Except for the obvious villains of course)

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Kate Mortan's, The Clockmaker's Daughter, is written from various viewpoints painting a rich picture of the events and values influencing the characters in the different time periods that it spans. While there is a lot going on it is cohesive, informative and interesting. At no time did I struggle to follow the various threads.

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This book jumped all over the place without any indication of which century it was in. After reading half the book I gave up and felt none the wiser. I using love Kate Morton books so I was very disappointed.

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Definitely not one of her best. Still engaging enough as a quick summer read, but that's all it was. It seemed to follow the same kind of formula as her previous novels (multiple stories/characters, woven into a common story) but I just didn't find the depth there. Worth a read if you're a Morton fan, but don't expect to be blown away by it.

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There is so much to like about this book. The eras it set in, the characters, the story telling. They all come to life so much so, that I found myself saying no don't stop there keep going. There are twists and turns, happiness and sadness. All woven into an intriguing story. I loved it.